PPB March 2021

State Parks Vs. National Parks: What’s The Difference? Both state and national parks are deemed protected land, but different governing bodies oversee them. State governments oversee state parks while the federal government oversees national parks. A Time For Outdoor Staycations Three-quarters of respondents in a OnePoll survey say they feel happier after spending time outdoors, and 66 percent say they are now doing more outdoor activities close to home. Connect with these outdoor enthusiasts by choosing promotional products they can use outside, from lawn chairs to games. Let’s Go To The Park! Here’s how often people visit their local park and recreation facilities: The Importance Of Parks Parks and recreation agencies play a key role in providing sports to children and teens. Consider these stats: Five in six parks and recreation agencies work with partners such as sports associations and schools to provide youth sports activities: 92 % of parks and recreation agencies charge registration fees 92 % offer team sports leagues 58 % offer individual sports leagues 49 % offer non-league after- school activities 33 % offer travel leagues 33 % offer adaptive/inclusive sports activities With physical distancing requirements and tightened budgets, 90 percent of parks and recreation agencies report feeling significant detrimental effects of COVID-19. Promotional products distributors can work with these agencies to address some of the biggest challenges when delivering youth sports activities: 59 % Not enough volunteer coaches 28 % Lack of interest among youth for sports activities 19 % Not enough administrative staff or resources 17 % Not enough staff coaches 14 % Lack of sufficient funding Source: NRPA Galyna Andrushko / Mihai_Andritoiu / Brocreative / Pixel-Shot / Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com 41% visit 1-5 times per year 19% visit 6-10 times per year 16% visit 21-50 times per year Source: NRPA’s 2020 Engagement With Parks Report Recreation Jobs On The Rise The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for recreation professionals to grow 10 percent between 2019 and 2029, which is significantly faster than other jobs. Pa r ks & Rec r ea t i on 52 | MARCH 2021 | GROW